action

action
noun
1 DOING THINGS (U) the process of doing in order to deal with a problem or difficult situation: The union is urging strike action. | We need more action, and less talk! | take action: The police took firm action to deal with the riots. | go/spring into action (=immediately begin doing something with a lot of energy): As soon as the SOS call was received, the rescue services sprang into action. | course of action (=a series of actions done in order to deal with something): One possible course of action would be to raise taxes on alcohol and tobacco.
2 SOMETHING DONE (C) something that someone does: The child could not be held responsible for his actions. | His prompt action probably saved my life.
3 in action if you see someone or something in action you see them doing the job or activity that they are trained or designed to do: exciting photos of ski jumpers in action | I'd like see the new computer system in action.
4 put/call/bring sth into action to begin to use a plan or idea that you have, and to make it work
5 be out of action if something or someone is out of action, they are broken or injured, so that they cannot move or work: My car's out of action at the moment, so I have to go by bus. | put sth/sb out of action: The torn ligaments in his knee put him out of action for the rest of the season.
6 COURT (C) the process of taking a case or a claim against someone to a court of law: They began an action to repossess the house. | legal/civil/libel etc action: The European Commission is threatening legal action against Britain and France to protect the environment. | bring an action (against): They will bring an action against him if he doesn't repay the loan.
7 FIGHTING (C, U) fighting or a battle during a war: When the action ended there were terrible losses on both sides. | in/into action: The navy was sent into action. | killed/wounded/missing in action: Their son was reported missing in action.
8 EXCITING EVENTS informal exciting and important things that are happening: I was looking for some action in this hick town. | where (all) the action is: This is the design studio - where the action is.
9 STORY the action the things that happen in a play or book: The action of `Hamlet' takes place in Denmark.
10 BODY MOVEMENT (C, U) a movement of the body, especially a particular type of movement: the action of the heart | the horse's trotting action
11 MACHINERY (singular) the movement of the parts of a clock, gun, piano etc: The action of this piano is rather stiff.
12 EFFECT (U) the way in which something such as a chemical or process has an effect on something else: The rock had been worn away by the action of the falling water.
13 action group/committee/project etc a group formed to do something specific, especially to change a social or political situation: the Child Poverty Action Group
14 a piece of the action informal a share of something, such as profits, a business etc
15 actions speak louder than words used to say that you are judged by what you do, rather than by what you say you will do
16 FILMS action! used by film directors to tell the actors and other film workers to being filming

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • action — ac·tion n [Latin actio legal proceeding, from agere to do, carry out, initiate legal proceedings] 1 a: a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense …   Law dictionary

  • action — ACTION. sub. f. L opération d un agent. L action du feu sur le bois. L action du Soleil sur les plantes. L action de l esprit. Le feu, par la violence de son action, vitrifie les métaux. Une action vive, soudaine, momentanée.Action, se dit aussi… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Action — may refer to:Music and culture* Action (philosophy), something a person can do * Action (music), a characteristic of a stringed instrument * Action (album), a 2004 album by Punchline * Action (B z album), a 2007 album by B z * Action (piano), the …   Wikipedia

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  • action — Action. s. f. Maniere dont une cause agit, & par laquelle elle produit son effet. L action du feu reduit le bois en cendres. Action, signifie aussi, Acte, fait, oeuvre. Bonne action. belle action. mauvaise action. vilaine action. action bien… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Action! — was a programming language and integrated editor, debugger, and 6502 code generating compiler, editor for the Atari 8 bit family of microcomputers. Action! was created by Clinton Parker and released on cartridge by Optimized Systems Software in… …   Wikipedia

  • Action — Ac tion, n. [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See {Act}.] 1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • action — et besongne, Pragma, Actio. Action et droit de poursuyvre en justice ce qui nous est deu, Actio. Action de grace, Gratulatio, Gratiarum actio. Action personnelle, Condictio, Actio in personam. Action réelle, Actio in rem. Action petitoire,… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Action 52-in-1 — Action 52 Action 52 Éditeur Active Enterprises Développeur FarSight Studios (MD) Active Enterprises …   Wikipédia en Français

  • action — 1 Action, act, deed agree in designating something done or effected. Action refers primarily to the process of acting; act and deed to the result, the thing done. An action is usually regarded as occupying some time and involving more than one… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • action — [ak′shən] n. [ME accion < OFr action < L actio < pp. of agere: see ACT1] 1. the doing of something; state of being in motion or of working 2. an act or thing done 3. [pl.] behavior; habitual conduct 4. habitual activity characterized by… …   English World dictionary

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